Scott Aaron Rogers interviews Dana Black, one of Indiana’s most well-connected Democrats, about the state of the Indiana Democratic Party. Black, who ran against House Speaker Brian Bosma in 2016 and served as deputy chair of engagement for the Indiana Democratic State Party for four years, brings rare insider perspective to the conversation. The discussion covers the Republican Party’s internal divisions between traditional conservatives and MAGA extremists (exemplified by the Beckwith-Alting feud), the lessons from Republicans rejecting Trump’s redistricting push, and what Indiana Democrats can learn from grassroots resistance movements like those in Minneapolis. Black challenges progressive critiques of the party’s electability, arguing Democrats do know how to win where numbers are good and emphasizing the need for demographic realism, local organizing, and voter turnout over ideological purity tests. The conversation addresses tensions between progressive activists and establishment Democrats, the Bill Clinton/Evan Bayh centrist legacy in Indiana politics, the importance of speaking to diverse audiences without flip-flopping on core values, and recent controversies over Marion County Democratic Party Chair Myla Eldridge challenging over 100 precinct committee and delegate candidates. Dana emphasizes that Black voters cannot afford to be single-issue voters, defends the party’s training programs, and pushes back against narratives that Democrats don’t know how to win, arguing the real issue is voter turnout in places like Marion County where getting above 60% would flip statewide races.
IN THE INTERVIEW
0:03:48 - INTRODUCTION: INDIANA’S OWN DANA BLACK
- Picked “Indiana’s own” moniker during 2016 run against Speaker Bosma to emphasize Hoosier values despite being masculine-presenting lesbian
- Got involved after 2014 RFRA on ballot, vowed District 88 wouldn’t go uncontested again (has had women/women of color running every cycle since)
- First vote at 17 for Jesse Jackson in 1988 primary, turned 55, “beat the odds” before internet chronicled everything
0:08:15 - REPUBLICAN PARTY DIVISIONS
- Beckwith-Alting feud symbolic of larger Republican rift between traditional GOP and MAGA extremists
- Republicans rejected redistricting not from principle but because activating 200K Marion County voters in each split district would offset rural counties
- Beckwith has been “chaos creator” since Hamilton County Library Board days, so problematic even Mike Braun (who said states should decide interracial marriage) rejected him
0:15:00 - LESSONS FROM MINNEAPOLIS RESISTANCE
- Minneapolis showing “true patriotism” with neighbors babysitting, providing resources to protect each other from ICE
- Hoosiers have that “nobody tells me what to do” attitude - don’t like being bullied whether right or left
- That resistance energy is what Democrats should channel into organizing and turnout
0:22:28 - DEMOCRATIC PARTY TRAINING & WINNING
- Pushes back on notion Indiana Democrats don’t know how to win - Democrats ARE winning where numbers are good
- 2023 mayoral races: won in Indianapolis, Bloomington, Columbus, South Bend (all places where Democrats have numbers)
- Real issue is voter turnout: Marion County at 41-42%, if Democrats get above 60% they flip statewide seats
0:27:05 - CAMPAIGN MECHANICS & EXECUTION
- Training is more than paperwork - it's canvassing technique, walk lit, email frequency, paid media strategy
- Dana took three trainings for 2016 race (local, statewide, 4-day boot camp), got most votes ever against Bosma in that district
- Bell curve is real: more people in middle than fringes, opportunity to flip independents and lean-right voters appalled by Trump
0:30:23 - DOWN-BALLOT RACES BUILD THE BENCH
- Democrats focused on top of ticket since Obama while Republicans flipped state houses
- Down-ballot races critical for building bench, learning compromise, working across aisle (potholes don't care about party)
- Christine Bohm in red Huntington County filled entire slate and has Democratic headquarters - "it can be done"
0:34:16 - INDIANAPOLIS & JOE HOGSETT
- Marion County turnout especially bad despite Democratic leadership (Hogsett in 3rd term)
- Hogsett administration "incompetent at best, corrupt at worst" - Thomas Cook harassment, self-dealing, throwing public schools under bus
- 600K Democrats (1/6 of state) in biggest media market - Hogsett dragging down brand for everyone
0:40:24 - INTRAPARTY DIVISIONS
- Party still fighting over Jesse Jackson direction vs. Bill Clinton direction
- Not about chasing specific voting blocs but speaking to audience in front of you on issues that matter to them
- Need candidates who can speak to Hamilton County AND Marion County without flip-flopping, just emphasizing different shared values
0:49:31 - BLACK VOTERS ARE NOT A MONOLITH
- Disagrees vehemently with Ron Gibson on data centers and Maggie Lewis on charter schools, but can find 5-6 areas of agreement with both
- Black people cannot afford to be single-issue voters - if there’s one issue it’s equal access and police brutality, but even that’s two
- People who disagree on one issue aren’t “Republican light” - can primary them if you want, but don’t throw them under bus
0:52:00 - MARION COUNTY DELEGATE/PC CHALLENGES
- Over 100 people challenged by Chair Myla Eldridge after signing up for precinct committee/delegate positions
- Black doesn’t know individual reasons but emphasizes there are rules and she followed them (wasn’t challenged)
- Eldridge offered to help challenged people get appointed instead - “If I don’t want you, why would I ask to appoint you?”
